Oscillating suction box



July'l?, 1928. 1,677,128

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July 17, 1928.

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Parental July 1'7, 192s UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE.

ALONZO'ALDBICH, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 BELOIT IRON WORKS, 0F

BLOIT, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION F WISCONSIN.

yO BCILII'ATING SUCTION BOX.

Application led December 5, 1927. Serial 237,802.

- This invention relates to oscillatin suction boxes for Fourdrinierpaper mac ines. Heretofore, suction boxes used in the Fourdriniersection of a paper machine have generally been provided withreciprocating i mechanism` for moving the suction boxes eitherlongitudinally or transversely of the 129 to provide mechanism foroscillating the ends of the suction boxes lengthwise and cross-wiseofthe wire in a plane parallel to the plane of the wire to prevent unevenwear or scoring of the suction box tops. u,

Itis a further object of this inventionto provide means for oscillatin aplurality lof suction boxes in unison, each lated about a substantiallyfixed central axis and in a plane parallel to the plane of the wire. f f

Ity is a further limportant object-of this invention to provide sim leand ru ged ymechanism for automaticallyI accomplis ung the oscillationof the suction boxes at a readily variable speed. v a

Other and further important objects of Vthis invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures,v in the specification and the accompan ingdrawings. 4 T is invention .gina preferred form) is illustrated in therawings and hereinafter more'fully described.

-On the drawings Figure 1 is a rokentop plan view of a front side o fthe suction box unit;

Fi ure-1 is an enlarged fragmentary sec-` tiona view taken substantiallyon line IV-IV of Figure 2';

' suction box unit for Fourdrinier paper mak- Figure 3 is an elevationalview of thev Figure 5 is a broken enlarged sectional vlew taken 0n lineV- V of Figure 1 with parts in elevation;

Figure V6 is an enlar ed sectional vie taken on line VI-VI of igure 1with parts removed and parts in elevation;

-Figure 7 i's an enlarged sectional-view taken on line VII- VII ofFigure 1, with parts in elevation; and l Figure 8 is an enlargedfragmentary sect1onal view taken online `VIII-VIII o Figure 7 with partsin elevation. f

he reference numerals 1 and 2. indicatefront and rear channel beamsrespectively forming a partof the Fourdrinier structure. In accordancewith the principles of this invention, a plurality of suction boxes 3are mounted from said channel beams 1 and 2 theV ends of the suctionboxes both lengthwise and crosswise of the Fourdrinier wire "in s'uch amanner as to permit oscillation of l a 101y in the plane parallelto theplane of said wire. While, as here illustrated, said suction boxes areof substantially standard type, com rising a lower box portion 4 and ato 5 t erefor having perforations 6, it will "understood that any typeof suction device may be arran ed in a manner similar to that illustrateand also that the invention is vequally applicable to suction vdevicesused in connection with wet felts. v

A suitable reciprocating mechanism for,`

ellecting oscillation of the suction boxes 3 is illustrated in Figures 7and 8. Said reciprocating mechanism comprises a casing 7 forming a. maincylinder chamber 8, an

auxiliary casing 9 providing a valve cylinder f (plunger cylinder 11. Apiston 12 to be reciprocated in the main ressure los 15 through an inletport 19 andt us up into the main cylinder 8. .In the positionillustrated, the pressure of the water .entering receive said plungerstem 25.

the cylinder 8 has forced the piston 12 over to extreme right-handposition. The water on the right hand of the piston 12 is beingdischarged from said cylinder '8 through an outlet port 2O intothe-valve cylinder 10 and out through' an outlet passage 21 communi?eating with a discharge pipe 22. The pressure of the water enteringthrough the intake port 18 next forces the floating valve 13 to the leftto provide communication between the right-liand intake port 18, theport 2O and the right-hand cud of the cylinder 8. The pressure of theincoming water through the port 20 will now force the piston 12 over toits extreme-left-hand position, at the same time discharging water onthe left hand of the piston 12 through port 19 into cylinder 10 and outthrough the discharge port 21 and discharge pipe 22. Bleeder ports 23and 24 connect the extreme ends -ot the cylinder 10 with the ends of theplunger cylinder 11 to allow displacement of the Water between the endsof the floating valve 13 and the ends of said cylinder 10.

A lunger stem 25 is reciprocall mounted in said cylinder 11 and is provied with a pair of spaced plunger heads 26 and 27, adapted to fit snuglywithin the cylinder 11. A pair of bleeder ports 28 and 29 are positionedadjacent the ends of cylinder 11 to allow for displacement of watertrapped between said lunger heads 26 and 27 and the ends of said) end ofsaid plunger stem 25 are adjustably ositioned a air of spaced collars3() and 31 aving associated therewith slidably mounted discs 32 and 33respectively. Coiled springs 34 and 35 are positioned between saidcollars 30 and 31 and the respective discs 32 and 33. An arm .36 isprovided with a lower passaged end 37 adapted to At its upper end saidarm 36 is formed with a box 38 having a threaded socket 39 for receivingthe outer end of the piston rod 40. `It is thus apparent thatreciprocation of the piston 12, effected as above described, results in.

reciprocating movement of the plunger stem 25. The spacing of the discs32 and 33 is so calculated with respect to the stroke of the piston 12as to effect the necessary amount of reciprocation ofthe plunger stem 25to control properly the bleeder ports 23, 24, 28 and 29. The springs 34-and 35 serve to a'ord the necessary degree ofl resiliency to absorb theforce of the 'blows against the discs 32 and 33 struck by thereciprocating end 37.

The reciprocating mechanism illustrated may obviously be replaced by another type 4of mechanism adapted for t eI purpose;

Said reciprocating mechanism is suitably fastenedy to the rear channelbeam 2 byj means of stud bolts 41, said channel beam cylinder 11. On theextended pin 46 secured in a forked end 47 of a lever arm 48. The otherend ofsaid lever arm 48 (Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive) is splined to a drivingstand or post 49. Said post 49 is rotatably mounted in a base socket 50secured by means of bolts 51 to thel lower web of the channel beam 2,said post extending through the upper .web of said channel beam 2 asbest shown in Figure 6.

The portion of said post 49 above the channel beam 2 is partly enclosedwithin a tubular housing 52, secured by means of bolts 53 to the upperweb of said channel beam 2. The upper end of said tubular housing 52supports a ball race 54, housed within a cap 55. Said ball race 54 com-`prises a lower ring 56 supported by the tubular housind 52 and an upperring 57 resting upon balls 58 positioned between said rings. Said cap 55rests directly upon the upper ring 57 Vand is secured against relativerotation with respect to the post 49 by means of a pin 59 passingtherethrough. lt is thus apparent that the bearing race 54 serves as athrust bearing to support the weight of the ost 49 and to permit it toswivel vfreely within the tubular housing 52. A cylindrical channel 60is formed throughout a part of the length of the tubular housing 52 forreceiving a lubricant adapted to be introduced through a passage 61 inthe wall of the housing 52. .The reciprocating movement of the piston 12and attached box 38 is thus translated by means of the roller 45 andlever arm 48 into limited swivelling movement of the post 49.

A bracket arm 62 is keyed to the upper lend of said driver post 49. Saidbracket arm 62 extends inwardly and is provided at its inner end with lavertical bore 63 for receiving a pin 64. Said pin 64 is provided with anannularfshoulder 65, between which yand a seat 66, formed in the bracketend,

said in 64 is provided with a reduced cylindrical portion 69 terminallythreaded lo receive a nut 70. Said reduced end -69 is adaptedto passthrough a hanger bar 71. which is-` thus su orted. thereon by means ofthe nut 70. aid hanger bar 71 extends the full length of the suction boxunit and is similarly supported at spaced intervals Y from bracket arms7 2.mounted upon swivel posts 73, constitutin .intermediate stands.

A similar hanger` ar 74 is supported by means .of bracket arms 75 fromposts 76 mounted on the front channel beam 1.

IMeans for driving said Afront hanger bar 74 comprise a cross bar 77(Figure 4) connected at one end to said lever arm 48 and at its otherend to a lever arm 78, which in 81 and 82 for receiving tongues 85 and86.,

Said tongues 85 and 86 in turn are pivotally mounted upon pins 83 and 84extending between spaced portions of the respective lever arms 48and-78. There is thus provided limitedfreedom of pivotal movement of thecross bar 77 in two planes.

Swivelling movement imparted to the driver Vpost 49is accordinglytranslated into similar swivelling ymovement of the posts 73 and 76,Aall of theseposts turning the same way and through the same fraction ofa revolution.v Because of this, the movement of the bracket arms 75 andtherefore of the front hanger bar 74 will be opposed in di rection tothe movement of the bracket arms 72 and rear hanger bar 71, as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 1.

now be described.` A

The suction boxes 3 are adapted to'be suspended at their respectiveAends from the *hanger4 bars 71 yand 74 by means that will plate 87 ispositioned adjacent each end of each suction box to 5 (Figure 5). Toeach plate 87 is secure a block'88 having a rsubstantially square orrectangular passage 89 rextending lengthwise of the machine forreceiving the hanger bars 71 and 74. Said blocks 88 are secured tosaidplates 87 b means of bolts 90 terminat-` ing flush with te undersurface of the plates 87. Other bolts 91 extend through said blocks` 88and plates 87 fand through slots 92 formed in theends of the suctlon boxtops 5. The up r ends of said bolts 91 are threaded to recelve nuts 93.The lower ends of said bolts 91 are inwardly turned as at 94, said ends94 being provided with cylindrical seatsv 95 for recelving rods 96extending crosswise ofthe suction box tops 5. Said frods 96, whichextendthefull width ofthe tops 5 through the walls of said suction` boxes 3,are each provided with flattened faces 97 y'adapted to .bear against theunder surface of the'to s'5. The tops 5 are thus clampingly held betweenthe under surfaces of theplates 87 and the fiat faces of'the rods 97,the amount of clamping pressure being adjustable by means of the nuts 93to permit free, relative movement between the contacting'surfaces. i

grease box 98 having Va hinged-cover 99. A pin 100 extends verticallythrough the bottom of each of said grease boxes 98 and through theupperwall of the block 88 into the hangers 74 or 71. The portions ofsaid pins 100 assing through the hangers 74 or 71 are cy indrical topermit relative turning movement between saidy pins and said bars. Thepassages 89 in the blocks 88 rovide sufficient clearance for the sides ov the hanger bars 71 and 74 to prevent binding of the hanger bars, sothat said hanger bars may remain at all times parallel to each other andlongitudinally of themachine.

As a result of the operation of the mechcillating about a substantiallyfixed central point and the ends of each of said suction boxes moving inan arc of` a circle, the opposite ends of each suction box moving 1nopposite directions. The planevin which the suction boxes oscillate isof necessity parallel to the' plane of the Wire, indicated by thereference numeral 101, whichtravels over the surfaces of the suction boxtops 5. It will be appreciated therefore that the oscil` latory movementof the suction boxes 3 prevents the wire from forming scores or groovesin the surface of said. tops 5, since contacting points on said.surfaces are constantly changing their relative positions with respectto points on the wire. The movement' of the ends of the suction boxesmay be resolved into 'a component ,longitudinal ofthe machine and asecond component transverse of the ,machine, but these components asbetween opposite ends of the suction boxes bein in opposite directions,the result is that t -ere is no tendencyof the suction box to drag thewire to one side or the other. It will therefore be apparent thatsuction boxes arrangedin accordance with my invention for oscillatingmovement possess certain very distinct advantages over" types of suctionboxes wherein the movement is solely transverse or solely longitudinalof the machine.

It will be appreciated thatthe clamping means for the ends of thesuction box tops, comprising the blocks 88,7plates 87 ,hook

bolts 93 and transverse rods 97, afford simple and ready means forsupporting the suction boxes from Athe hanger bars 1n such a way as tomaintainthe suction box tops in a plane always parallel to the. plane ofthe Wire. In practice, the vibrating hanger bars are'erected in such amanner that the under `On each of said blocks 88 is mounted an ment withVthe wire. Furthermore, said may be varied through a wide range without'departing from the principles of this invention and I, therefore, donot purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwis thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as'my| invention: 1. Adevice of the class described, comprisinga plurality of suction boxes having' perforated tops, means engaging theends of said tops adapted to allow relative move ment between the engaing surfaces and means associated with said en ging means for effectingoscillation of sai to s.

. 2. A device of the classv descri ed, 'coinprising a plurality ofsuction boxes, hollow clamping means or engaging and supporting therespective ends of said boxes, bars mounted in said clampin means andconnecting said boxes, swive y mounted ineinbers associated with saidbars, and means for swivelling said members to move said bars throuV hagcurvilinear path to thereby effect osci ation of said suction boxes inunison.

3. A device ofthe class described, comprising a plurality of suctionboxes, perforated tops therefor having slotted ends, hollow clampingmeans for the ends of said tops having clampin portions extendingthrough said slots to rictionally engage the under side of saidtops,ibars mounted in said hollow clamping means, and mechanism formoving said bars through a curvilinear path to thereby effectoscillation of said suction boxes.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a plurality ofsuction'boxes,perfo rated tops therefor having slotted ends, hollowclamping means for the ends of said tops having portions extendinthrough said slots to frictionally engage t e under side of said tops,bars mounted in said hollow clamping means and adapted to have limitedpivotal movement relative thereto, swivel posts having arms pivotallyconnected to said bars and mechanism for swivelling said posts to effectoscillation of said suction boxes through movement of said bars incurvilinear paths.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a plurality of suctionboxes, perforated tops' therefor having slotted ends, hollow clampingmeans for frictionally engaging the ends of said tops having portionsextending through said slots, bars mounted in said hollow clamping meansfor limited pivotal movement relative thereto, swivel posts having armspivotally connected to said bars, reciprocating mechanism havingtransversely slotted guides and arms spliiied to said swivel postshaving rollers adapted to extend into said slotted guides for swivellingsaid posts to effect oscillation of said uction boxes through movementof said ars.

6. Clamping means for a suction box top, said top being provided withlongitudinal end slots, comprisingl plate adapted to be positioned uponone end of said top), a hollow member secured to said plate, oltssecured to said member and extending through said slots, said boltshaving lower inturned ends and a rod adapted to be clanipinrly held bysaid inturned ends against the un er surface of said top.

7. Clamping means for a suction box top, comprising plate adapted to bepositioned upon one end of said top, said top having longitudinal endslots, a hollow member secured to said plate, bolts passing through saidmember and extendin through said slots, said bolts being forme withinturned ends having cylindrical seats, a circular bar positioned insaid seats having a iiattened face adapted to contact the under surfaceof said top and means for adjusting the clamping pressure exerted uponsaid top by said plate and bar to permit relative movement of said toptherebetween.

8. In a device of the class described, a pair of longitudinallyextending vibrating han er bars adapted to remain in parallel relationduring vibration, a plurality of suction boxes and means for suspendingsaid boxes from said hanger bars to permit relative movement betweenadjacent surfaces of said boxes and said bars.

9. The combination with the wire of a Fourdrinier paper machine, of asuction device comprising a pair of vibrating hanger bars extendinglongitudinall of the Wire and adapted to remain at all times in parallelrelation to each other, suction boxes and means for suspending saidsuction boxes from said bars to permit relative movement therebetweenwith the tops of said boxes lying in the plane of said wire.

10. The combination with the wire of a Fourdrinier paper machine, of asuction device comprising a pair of vibrating hanger barsextendinglongitudinally of the wire, suction boxes` means for suspending saidsuction boxes from said bars with the tops of said boxes lying in theplane of said wire, and means for vibrating said bars longitudinally andcrosswise of the direction of travel of said wire while maintaining saidbars at all times in parallel relation te the direction of the wire.

11. The combination with the wire of a Fourdrinier paper machine. of asuction device comprising vibrating hanger bars. hol- Iow members forreceiving said hanger bars having under surfaces lying in the plane ofsaid wire, suction boxes, and means for lll) clamping the tops of saidsuction boxes means'associated with said slots for remov; 10`

against said under surfaces for suspension,v ably suspendingsaid'suction boxes from said fromV said bars. i .bars with the tops ofsaid boxes in the plane 12. The combination with the Wire of zi,l ofsaid wire( 5 l Fourdrinier paper machine, of a suctionde- In testimonywhereof I have hereunto vice comprising vibrating hanger bars, meanssubscribed my name at Beloit, Rock County, 15 for vibrating said bars'in a plane parallel Wisconsin. to the vplane of the wire, suction boxesprovided with tops having slotted ends and ALoNzo ALDRICH.

